HEY costs $15/mo.
These cost $0.
1 free alternatives to HEY, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for HEY is UnInbox (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 1 self-hostable tool is available (including UnInbox). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $900/year compared to HEY's $15/mo subscription.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed HEY.
HEY vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $15/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnInbox | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 1.8k | HEY vs UnInbox → |
The picks
1 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
UnInbox
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host1.8knov 2026Streamline team communication with shared inboxes, unlimited email addresses, and customizable workflows. Perfect for modern businesses seeking organized email management.
The catch vs HEYRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed HEY.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/un/inbox or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
HEY Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 1 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · HEY open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to HEY?+
The top free alternative to HEY is UnInbox (open source, Open Source). Streamline team communication with shared inboxes, unlimited email addresses, and customizable workflows. Perfect for modern businesses seeking organized email management.
Can I self-host a free replacement for HEY?+
Yes. Of the 1 free alternatives to HEY, 1 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: UnInbox (Open Source).
How much does switching from HEY to a free alternative save?+
HEY starts at $15/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like UnInbox saves $900 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own HEY clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for HEY is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for HEY or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 1 battle-tested open-source alternatives like UnInbox.
What is the catch when switching from HEY to UnInbox?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed HEY.
